A training system has one or more displays that simulate or mimic rear view mirrors, showing, for example, what is visible behind the simulated vehicle. The training system includes sensors, software, and related hardware for determining a position of a trainee's head within the simulated vehicle and calculating a viewing angle and/or distance between the trainee's eye(s) and the rear view mirrors. Based upon the viewing angle and/or distance, a rear image is panned/zoomed on each of the rear view mirrors corresponding to the viewing angle and/or distance.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A training system, the training system providing training on operation of a vehicle, the training system comprising: a computer, the computer having a storage device; a plurality of training segments stored on the storage device and accessible by the computer, each of the training segments includes a video stream of a wide-angle view of what is visible from a rear view mirror perspective behind the vehicle; one or more graphics displays, at least one portion of one of the graphics displays corresponds to a rear view mirror of a target vehicle; a sensor, the sensor configured to measure a position of a trainee's head relative to the at least one portion of the one of the graphics displays that corresponds to the rear view mirror; software running on the computer, the software reads data from the sensor and the software calculates the position of the trainee's head relative to the at least one portion of the one of the graphics displays that corresponds to the rear view mirror; and the software calculates a location and zoom level within each frame of the video stream of the wide-angle view from the rear view mirror perspective of what is visible behind the vehicle from the position of the trainee relative to the at least one portion of the one of the graphics displays that corresponds to the rear view mirror and the software displays a portion of each frame of the video stream of the wide-angle view from the rear view mirror perspective of what is visible behind the vehicle at the location and the zoom level.
2. The training system of claim 1 , wherein the software changes the location within each frame of the video stream of the wide-angle view from the rear view mirror perspective of what is visible behind the vehicle when the trainee's head moves.
3. The training system of claim 1 , wherein the software changes the zoom level within each frame of the video stream of the wide-angle view from the rear view mirror perspective of what is visible behind the vehicle when the trainee's head moves closer to or farther away from the at least one portion of the one of the graphics displays that corresponds to the rear view mirror.
4. The training system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one portion of the one of the graphics displays that corresponds to the rear view mirror is a portion of a larger display, and the software presents a windshield view on a different section of the larger display.
5. The training system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one portion of the one of the graphics displays that corresponds to the rear view mirror is a discrete display.
6. The training system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an array sensor, the array sensor providing three-dimensional positioning data related to the position of the trainee's head with respect to the at least one portion of the one of the graphics displays that corresponds to the rear view mirror.
7. The training system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is at least one camera, the camera providing three-dimensional positioning data related to the position of the trainee's head with respect to the at least one portion of the one of the graphics displays that corresponds to the rear view mirror.
8. The training system of claim 1 , wherein the system plays the frames of the video stream of the wide-angle view of what is visible behind the vehicle to simulate movement of the vehicle and the software displays an updated portion of the each frame of the video stream of the wide-angle view what is visible behind the vehicle at the location and the zoom level.
9. A method of training a trainee in use of a vehicle, the training system comprising a computer that includes a storage device, the storage device having stored within a plurality of training segments, each of the training segments including a video stream of a wide-angle view of what is visible behind the vehicle; a graphics display that corresponds to a rear view mirror of the vehicle; a sensor, the sensor configured to determine a position of a trainee's head relative to the graphics display; the method includes: (a) selecting a first segment of the training segments as the current segment; (b) reading data from the sensor; (c) calculating a location of the trainee's head from the data; (d) determining a viewing angle between the trainee's head and the graphics display based upon the location of the trainee's head; (e) determining a distance between the trainee's head and the graphics display based upon the location of the trainee's head; (f) displaying on the graphics display, a portion of a frame of the video stream of the wide-angle view of what is visible behind the vehicle in the current segment, the portion determined based upon the viewing angle and the distance; (g) responsive to movement of the trainee's head, repeating steps b-g using a next frame of the video stream of the wide-angle view of what is visible behind the vehicle in the current segment; and (h) responsive to simulated movement of the vehicle, selecting a next segment of the training segments as the current segment and repeating steps b-h; wherein each frame of the video stream of the wide-angle view of what is visible behind the vehicle in the current segment is a wide-angle view of what is visible behind the vehicle in the current segment.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein each frame of the video stream of the wide-angle view of what is visible behind the vehicle further comprises what is visible behind a driver's seat of the vehicle including a side of the vehicle and at least one wheel of the vehicle.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein in step f, if the distance increases, displaying on the graphics display a smaller portion of the frame of the video stream of the wide-angle view of what is visible behind the vehicle in the current segment.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein in step f, if the distance decreases, displaying on the graphics display a greater portion of the frame of the video stream of the wide-angle view of what is visible behind the vehicle in the current segment.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sensor provides three-dimensional data related to the position of the trainee's head.
14. A system for training a trainee regarding the use of a vehicle, the system comprising: a computer; a plurality of training segments accessible by the computer, each of the training segments including a video stream of a wide-angle view of what is visible behind the vehicle; a display operatively interfaced to the computer, the display physically located within the system to simulate a rear view mirror; and a sensor, the sensor configured to measure a position of a trainee's head relative to the display; wherein the computer is configured for: selecting a segment of the training segments as a current segment; calculating, based on a measurement from the sensor, an angle between the head of the trainee and the display; calculating, based on a measurement from the sensor, a distance between the head of the trainee and the display; selecting and displaying a portion of each frame of the video stream of the wide-angle view of what is visible behind the vehicle in the current segment based upon the angle and the distance, the portion being less than the entire frame of the video stream of the wide-angle view of what is visible behind the vehicle in the current segment; and sequencing through the segments to simulate movement of the vehicle; wherein the video stream of the wide-angle view of what is visible behind the vehicle in the current segment is a wide-angle view of what is visible behind the vehicle.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein calculating an angle between the head of the trainee and the display comprises calculating both a horizontal angle and a vertical angle, and wherein the selecting and displaying a portion of the frame of the video stream of the wide-angle view of what is visible behind the vehicle in the current segment is based upon the horizontal angle, the vertical angle, and the distance.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the sensor is an array sensor.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the display is a discrete display.
18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the display is part of a larger display.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein each of the training segments further includes an image of what is visible in front of the vehicle and the system includes means for displaying the image of what is visible in front of the vehicle on a second portion of the larger display.
20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the display is mounted in a position within the system that relates to a position of a rear view mirror of the vehicle.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
July 17, 2013
August 16, 2016
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